ZURICH – The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation announced that Sean Simpson will not only coach the men’s national team, but also the U20 national team where he succeeds Manuele Celio, who became coach of the U18 national team.

Simpson took the vacant position already during two summer camps and will lead the team to the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship in Ufa, Russia.

Until last season Simpson has been part of the U20 national team staff in the role of an advisor.

“I had the opportunity to coach the U20 national team in August and to get to know highly motivated players,” Simpson said about his new assignment. “With their passion the players convinced me to continue this work until after the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship in Ufa.”

Simpson will be assisted by Colin Muller, who was already his assistant when he led the ZSC Lions Zurich to the win of the Champions Hockey League and the Victoria Cup in 2009. Simpson took over the Swiss men’s national team in April 2010 while Muller was the head coach of second-tier club EHC Olten last season. Muller also assisted Simpson at the 2011 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

The duo was working together in Zurich and Zug during seven years. Muller and Celio will also work as Simpson’s assistant coaches on the men’s national team at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Sweden and Finland.

Muller will take over the coaching during the international break in November when Simpson will coach the men’s national team at the Deutschland Cup in Munich and in mid-December when Simpson will coach the men’s team at a four nations tournament on home ice in Arosa.

MARTIN MERK